Middle-income Americans are fraught with worry about a range of financial issues, which often adversely impact their health, personal relationships and on-the-job performance, according to research by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual). It's a negative feedback loop that new tools and education now available through the workplace can help break.

Overall, 37 percent of middle-income workers report feeling “not very” or “not at all” financially secure, while the majority (54 percent) describe themselves as “somewhat secure,” according to the MassMutual Middle America Financial Security Study (2017 MassMutual Middle America Financial Security Study). The internet-based research was conducted on behalf of MassMutual by Greenwald & Associates and polled 1,010 working Americans ages 25-65 with annual household incomes of between $35,000 and $150,000 and participated in making household financial decisions.

Stress, anxiety, insomnia

Concerns about finances have tangible, negative repercussions for many people's health and personal relationships. Worries about money are blamed for causing stress by a majority of survey respondents while four in 10 say financial issues impede their social life and ability to do things with friends. Financial worries also make it difficult for a third to eat healthy, 27 percent report negative impacts on their marriage or romantic relationship, and 22 percent cite challenges in getting medical or dental care.

Those who worry about money at least once a week say their troubles cause a variety of health issues, including anxiety (51 percent), headaches (38 percent), insomnia or difficulty sleeping (35 percent), nausea or stomach issues (20 percent), and clenched jaw or grinding teeth (19 percent).